The Accra Metropolitan Assembly (AMA) in partnership with the Ghana Association of Visual Artists (GAVA) has launched the 2021 World Art Day dubbed ‘Reimagining Ghana’s Future Artistically.’
Speaking at the launch on Tuesday, March 23rd, 2021 the Metropolitan Chief Executive of Accra, Mohammed Adjei Sowah noted that the Assembly was committed to ensuring art thrives in the city and would provide the necessary leadership and support.
He added that art contributes to the economic growth of the city hence his interest in ensuring that the Assembly’s focus was not monotonous on traders, building permits, and only education going to schools build but promoting art.
“It cannot be said that our focus has been monotonous on traders, building permits, and only education but the art contributes a lot to the economy of Accra…” he said.
Mr. Mohammed Adjei Sowah also pointed out that the ‘Accra for Arts’ initiative was intended to make the city a creative city that everyone has space, confidence, and something to do or contribute to the city.
Executive Director of the National Commission on Culture, Madam Edna Nyame also noted that art was an important element of promoting our culture as a country and generating revenue for the economy.
“As Ghanaians or artists we can attract tourists if we have beautiful arts to show and exhibit since tourists troop into our country to have a feel of our story and artifacts…” she said.
She called on artists across the country to take keen action in creating arts that would attract local and international patronage.
The President of GAVA, Nana Otuo Owuoahene Acheampong revealed that this year’s theme focuses on promoting reimagination as the birthplace of vision and change and the valuable talents of artists to translate visions into concrete visual representations.
He further pointed out that art was worth celebrating as it provokes, informs, and challenges the visual representation of ideas thus the relentless efforts of artists and active collaborations to reimagine Ghana’s future artistically and making it a reality.
A representative of UNESCO country Director in Ghana, in a speech reason his behalf by Karl Ampah, lauded the Mayor of Accra for showing keen interest in art and efforts to make Accra a creative city and urged him to encourage the youth to create more artworks that would generate income for them and uplift the economic development of the city.
He further added, the year 2021 has been “declared the year of arts, culture, and heritage by the Africa Union” and the international year of the creative economy for sustainable development by the United Nations conference of trained development.
Highlighting activities for the World Art Day celebration slated for April 15, 2021, Mr. Otuahene Acheampong stated that there would be outdoor meetings, culture, artistic expression on the high street of Accra, and an art exhibition at the forecourt of the Accra Metropolitan Assembly.
